Im assuming HM referred to the private (Wassenaar) wing when he spoke about their living quarters. The main block and guest/staff (The Hague) wing are being restored but i don't think the lay out of those parts of the palace will change much. When the private wing was renovated for Beatrix and Claus the lay out was changed as it has been changed several times since the wings were added in the 1730's. Beatrix used the paintings of Schouwman depicting the menagerie of Stadholder Willem V to be used in her private dining room. These hangings have been loaned to a museum and will return to the palace when the renovation is in a later stage.

--Previous Message-- : A very interesting interview, but also one : that raised a great many questions for many : as well : : * he explained that the ground floor of : villa Eikenhorst has official reception : rooms and the family has a private apartment : on the floors above. The interviewer asked : why they had not changed things around and : chosen to live on the ground floor so they : could open the doors and walk into the : gardens. : The king responded that he agreed and that : when they move to Huis ten Bosch the living : quarters will be on the ground floor. This : is a change from tradition as the ground : floor of Huis ten Bosch is lower than the : first floor and was used to house the rooms : of the three princes and their : caretaker so im curious how much of the lay : out of the palace is going to change. : : : Since villa Eikenhorst always has been a : private residence on private grounds and was : renovated totally after Willem-Alexander : & Maxima decided to live there after : their wedding. The original Manor had been : built especially for his aunt Christina and : her family earlier on but had been : abandonned when she divorced and started : living outside of the Netherlands again. : : The fact that it is a private residence of a : Heir to a throne will, naturally, always : include one or two official reception/dining : rooms but I find it still amazing to hear : that the whole ground floor is used to : accomodate for his officlial duties. : From previously released photos of the : family one got the impression that it was a : 'combined' family/official floor .... : : Huis ten Bosch Palace is quite a different : chapter of course, having been built & : lived in (for centuries) by the Dutch royal : family. : Even though Juliana only used it for more : official purposes (State Visits/signing of : important treaties etc.) and lived her : family-life at Soestdijk Palace. When : Beatrix became Queen one wing was used for : the family while the official rooms were : renovated in grand style. : : It seems rather drastic to turn things : around here, in such a historic palace and : use the ground floor for the family and have : the official rooms on another floor. : After all, in a few more years the family : will see many changes as the daughters will : start studying/living elsewhere so the : family will consist of lesser 'living-in' : off-spring. : The way Queen Beatrix and Prince Claus : handled it at the time seems much more : functional for a family with growing-up : youngsters who will spend a few more years : at home before leaving the nest : : I also wonder if there are no restrictions : to such drastic changes as it is a protected : Monument. But well, being the King and in : charge of much (....) there won't be many : who will go against his (or Maxima's) : opinion I guess . : : :